Did Jesus change doctrine?

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I have a Protestant friend at work whom I’ve been talking to Catholicism about. I made a statement that doctrine is unchanging for what was true 2000 years ago must be true today… and what was sin 2000 years ago must be sin today. If doctrine were to change, then I said, what we would have is a false religion.

He came back and said, “if doctrine changed it wouldn’t bother me any, Jesus changed doctrines of the OT and reversed a lot of teaching”

Now, I can’t point out every instance or even particular ones but I do know they exist. Can someone help me to understand when Jesus says something like, “you have heard it said… but I say unto you…” How is it he’s not changing teaching?
 
James_2_24 said:
I have a Protestant friend at work whom I’ve been talking to Catholicism about. I made a statement that doctrine is unchanging for what was true 2000 years ago must be true today… and what was sin 2000 years ago must be sin today. If doctrine were to change, then I said, what we would have is a false religion.

He came back and said, “if doctrine changed it wouldn’t bother me any, Jesus changed doctrines of the OT and reversed a lot of teaching”

Now, I can’t point out every instance or even particular ones but I do know they exist. Can someone help me to understand when Jesus says something like, “you have heard it said… but I say unto you…” How is it he’s not changing teaching?
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Ah, but it was Jesus doing the changing, and correcting misunderstandings about God’s will. In turn, he offered a clearer understanding of what God asks of us, through the commands to love and a demonstration of what that love looks like.

If doctrines are changed after that–it means we have an even clearer revelation of God than God’s own Son–and if we have that clear a vision of God, what are we doing still following Jesus?

I admit that, perhaps, when Jesus returns, things will change–but until then, we must follow the truth we have been given, a truth that was promised the safeguard of the Holy Spirit. It’s the best we have, and we do not dare to change it.
 
The only thing I can think of with the “you have heard it said but I say to you” is when he was talking about “an eye for an eye”. He didn’t change doctrine, but he commanded that just as God forgives us we are to forgive our neighbors.
I don’t know of any beliefs that he “reversed”.Can you give an example?
 
Jesus fulfilled the Mosaic covenant and replaced it with the everlasting covenant. Maybe ask your friend just what “everlasting” means.
 
Jesus didn’t change doctrine, he interpreted, fulfilled, completed.

Sounds like this person either doesn’t believe in objective truth or isn’t confident objective religious truth is knowable with certainty through the Christian faith.
 
Jesus does not change doctrine in the sermon on the mount, but he raises the bar.

***You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, “You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment.” But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment *(Matthew 5:21-22)

Murder was where the bar was set under the law of Moses. Now anger is where the bar is set. Jesus raises the bar. Murder still leaves one liable to judgment. That has not changed.

You have heard that it was said, “You shall not commit adultery.” But I say to you, everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. (Matthew 5:27-28)

Again, physically committing the act of adultery was where the mark was set. Jesus has not changed that. But Jesus raises the bar and teaches that even lusting is adultery. Physically committing the act of adultery is still a sin. That has not changed. Jesus is God. Jesus has authority to raise the bar.

Rabbis used to teach under the authority of other Rabbis. They would say, “Rabbi Hillel says…” and “Rabbi Hillel teaches…”

As he was walking in the temple area, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders approached him and said to him, “By what authority are you doing these things? Or who gave you this authority to do them?” (Mark 11:27-28)

But Jesus is God. Jesus does not teach this way. Jesus has authority to raise the bar because he is God. Jesus does not teach in the name of another Rabbi or with the authority of another Rabbi.

***But I say to you…/***INDENT]

That’s how Jesus teaches. Jesus looks at his followers and says, I say to you because he teaches with the authority of himself, God.

-Tim-​
 
I think that I would ask what “doctrine” Jesus changed.
It could be that you and he are talking about different things. For instance, he may be referring to things as “doctrine” that are actually “disciplines”.

As others have said, Jesus raised the bar, and fulfilled the OT covenant.
Any “Changes” to what would be “doctrinal truths” would more likely be a deeper understanding of an already held eternal truth.

In any event this might be just the thing to start a nice conversation on viewpoints, terms and outlooks.

Good Luck

Peace
James
 
“"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them” (Matthew 5:17).
 
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